Is Tim Hardaway Jr. seriously an option at No. 7 for the Sacramento Kings? Chad Ford says it could happen. AP Photo

Tim Hardaway Jr.'s stock has done nothing but rise since he declared for the NBA draft in April, while Trey Burke's has taken a hit or two after peaking as a potential No. 1 pick earlier this spring.

But through the entire process, perhaps no one viewed it possible that Hardaway could be taken before Burke, his former Michigan teammate of two years, in next week's draft.

Well, ESPN.com's Chad Ford says there's a chance.

Ford broached the topic via Twitter on Wednesday, saying the Sacramento Kings (who pick at No. 7) worked hard to get Hardaway -- and ex-New Mexico State star Tony Snell -- in for a workout recently.

Could the Kings shock the rest of the league and pull the trigger on Hardaway in the lottery? Or are they just blowing smoke?

"Snell is in for his second workout (with the Kings)," Ford wrote in an ESPN chat Wednesday. "They worked very hard to get Hardaway Jr. in. There isn't a lot of consensus after the top 6 so ... I guess so."

He wrote Wednesday he believes the New Orleans Pelicans (No. 6) favor former Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams over Burke, and he also believes the Phoenix Suns (No. 5) like ex-Lehigh star C.J. McCollum over the 2013 consensus national player of the year.

As for the Orlando Magic at No. 2? Ford says the team is currently most comfortable with Oladipo, saying it doesn't see any point guard in this draft worthy enough of a No. 2 overall selection.

On Tuesday, Ford projected Burke at No. 8 to the Detroit Pistons, and had Hardaway at No. 27 to the Denver Nuggets.

Is Burke's stock plummeting? It's tough to tell, and will be impossible to tell before draft day.

Michigan coach John Beilein weighed in on the subject with "The Huge Show" on Tuesday.

"What teams need a point guard, and they're trying to figure it all out," Beilein said. "You could drop three or four spots because someone doesn't need a point guard.

"It's crazy to even think (a handful of spots) is (actually a) drop. You go from the first round to the second round, that's a drop. He's real confident he'll be taken (high)."

Beilein said he'll be in New York next week to support Burke at the draft. He said Hardaway does not presently have plans to be in Brooklyn on draft night.